You hiss at Arik, tossing the bottle away and folding your arms. "You could've mentioned that this was what you were going to do. I thought you were going to make us human or something. How does this make it easier to get back to your home?"
He turns, looking like he isn't going to answer you. "Trust me, this is more economical. I don't have time to explain, though. Stay here." He leaves out the office door, easily able to fit two thicknesses of his tail through the door side-by-side.
You think about disobeying, but you've already lost a foot and a half by the time he's out the door. In fact, you're shrinking much more rapidly than he was. You hope he'll teach you how to resist this stuff like he can. In no more than two minutes, you're about the size of a viper before the world seems to stabilize. Thankfully, the shirt Arik gave you has shrunk with you. You're not even thinking about that, though, still upset about how everyone's been treating you recently. You freeze suddenly as you feel a huge vibration shoot through you, then another and another in rapid succession, each getting more violent. By the time the barrage ends, your senses are so shaken that you're completely disoriented, the echos pounding in your head. Even as you look up at Marisa, now standing over you, your eyes can't focus on her massive form, so you just lay there pitifully, unable to cope with so many terrifying new sensations.
As you notice the giant hand coming down towards you, you regain some of your awareness, holding yourself up and hissing at it. She hesitates, drawing it back a little. Satisfied, you relax, closing your mouth again. Then, faster than you can process, you're scooped up into her hand, fingers wrapped around your body and preventing you from biting her. She tries to get you to settle down, but you're not listening to what she's saying. What calms you is more physical. Your tail wraps around her wrist instinctively, the heat and stability settling you down enough that she's confident enough to release you. With your head clear, you manage to resist biting her, instead just laying on your stomach in her palm.
To your surprise, Marisa starts rubbing your back with her thumb. It feels nice, despite the awkward pressure it puts on your chest. "David, are you sure you want to do this? As you can see, nagas aren't the most... forthcoming with information. You've only been a witch for a day. You really want to go off with someone who would have no problems taking advantage of your ignorance?"
"You mean like not telling me that he's going to ruin my life by changing me into some she-snake?" you reply indignantly, your words starting to hiss on the S's.
"I didn't know!" She sighs, running a finger down the side of your tail in a way that feels nicer than you would ever admit. "I never meant for things to get out of control like this, David. I just... wanted an apprentice. I can understand why you want to leave, but please be carful around Arik. It might seem like he cares about you, but its your venom that's valuable. And if you change your mind, I'd be happy to take you back on as my apprentice."
You don't respond right away, thinking about her warnings. "We'll see," you reply stubbornly. "This is one of the first choices anyone has actually given me recently, so I'm not going to refuse it."
Marisa looks like she's going to continue, but someone walks into the room. It's a younger girl, about 15 or 16, with black hair and blue eyes so pale that they were almost gray. Arik was wrapped around her neck, and she was holding...